Ready to read
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 1 month AGO
The Seattle-based Book-It Theater, seen here in its adaptation of ‘A Splash of Red,’ will perform at four Columbia Basin libraries as part of the North Central Regional Library summer reading program.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | June 15, 2016 6:00 AM
MOSES LAKE — The North Central Regional Library’s summer reading program will bring puppet theater, knights and a lesson on hydropower from the Chelan County PUD to Columbia Basin libraries.
The Book-It Theater, Seattle, will present live performances during the summer in Moses Lake, Quincy, Ephrata and Soap Lake. The Pacific Science Center will make a visit to Moses Lake and Quincy Aug. 8.
Activities begin the week of June 20-24 and continue through the week of Aug. 15-19. Along with special programs, there are weekly crafts and activities at each library.
The in-library program for children is supplemented by online programs for children, teens and adults. More information is available on the regional library website, www.ncrl.org.
It’s a sports theme for 2016, “On Your Mark, Get Set ... Read.”
Summer special events also include a photo editing class at all Basin libraries except Warden. It’s scheduled for June 23 in Ephrata and Soap Lake, July 26 in George, Aug. 2 in Quincy and Aug. 21 in Moses Lake. The 90-minute class is held at different times, depending on the library.
The Book-It Theater comes to Soap Lake and Ephrata June 24; the Soap Lake performance is at 10:30 a.m., with the curtain going up at 1:30 p.m. in Ephrata. The company’s tour presents plays based on children’s books. “Flora and Ulysses” is scheduled for Ephrata and Soap Lake and is the story of a squirrel sucked up in a vacuum cleaner who becomes a superhero.
Book-It Theater visits Moses Lake Aug. 15 and Quincy Aug. 16. They will present “Level Up” by Gene Yuan Lang, a story about video games, supernatural visitors and a young man’s dilemma over choosing a career and direction for his life.
The NRCL Puppeteers visit each library twice during the summer. The puppeteers write and produce an original puppet show each year, based on the reading program theme.
The Knights of Veritas will appear in George and Warden. The Knights, based in Ellensburg, use historically accurate tools, armor and techniques to demonstrate life and conflict in the Middle Ages.
The Chelan County PUD visits all libraries in the system during the summer, telling the story of hydropower in general and its development along the Columbia River in particular. Musician and storyteller Deb McVay will bring her English-Spanish program to all local libraries except Moses Lake.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Hansen Road demolition about halfway completed
MOSES LAKE — Construction crews working to demolish the Hansen Road overpass are halfway through the job. Crews were out Thursday morning demolishing the north end of the overpass while traffic negotiated Interstate 90. Westbound traffic is using the Hansen Road offramp and onramp as a detour, while eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane on I-90. The eastbound lanes shift as different parts of the bridge are demolished.
Moses Lake City Council votes to place restrictions on kratom sales
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council members approved restrictions on the sale of products containing kratom, both from the plant and synthetic derivatives. Sales will be restricted to people 21 years of age and older.
Ephrata looking for infrastructure, economic development grant opportunities
EPHRATA — Infrastructure improvement usually starts with a plan – at least when a city is looking for state or federal funding to help pay for it. Ephrata city officials are working on plans to help bring in some of that funding, along with working on projects already planned.